Good questions. Clear answers.

Yes. Limited companies, LLPs, partnerships and sole traders can all use bridging finance if they have suitable property to offer as security and a credible plan to repay. Lenders focus on the property value and the exit route, so a business with thin accounts or a recent dip in trading can still be considered. Most lenders will also ask the directors for personal guarantees. More on business bridging loans.

The cost depends on the LTV, the lot, the term and the interest method. You would pay monthly interest for the time the loan runs, an arrangement fee of around 1% to 2%, which is £2,000 to £4,000 on £200,000 for example, plus valuation and legal fees and possibly an exit fee. Our bridging cost calculator lets you test your own numbers. More on auction bridging finance.

It depends on the monthly pricing, the term and the fees. The main costs are monthly interest, an arrangement fee of typically around 1% to 2% (for example £2,000 to £4,000 on £200,000), valuation, legal costs and on refurbishment loans the monitoring surveyor. Interest on works tranches only runs once drawn. Use our bridging cost calculator to model the total for your term. More on refurbishment bridging.

Costs vary by building, specification and location, so any single figure would mislead. Budget for fire separation, sound and thermal upgrades, new services, windows, professional fees and a contingency of around 10%. On the finance side, allow for monthly interest, an arrangement fee of typically 1% to 2%, valuation, monitoring and legal costs. More on commercial to residential.

Indicative terms on a clear commercial deal can often be issued within a day or two. Completion typically takes two to four weeks where valuation and legal work move quickly. Simple refinances of clean, let property can be quicker, while complex titles, specialist assets or multiple properties take longer. No completion date can be promised until title and valuation are reviewed. More on fast commercial bridging.

For a VAT bridge of £200,000, costs include monthly interest for the period until HMRC repays (subject to any minimum interest period), an arrangement fee of typically 1% to 2% (for example £2,000 to £4,000), legal fees and possibly an exit fee. Use our bridging cost calculator with a realistic refund timescale to model the total. More on vat bridging loans.

Yes. Many land deals are funded with a first charge on the land plus a first or second charge over another property you own as additional security. This lowers the overall loan to value and widens lender choice. If the other property is your home, the loan is likely to be regulated and must go through a firm directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, which we can introduce. More on bridging loans for land.

A bridge to let is a bridging loan where the planned exit is a long-term investment mortgage once the property is let, rather than a sale. Some lenders package both stages together with pre-agreed refinance terms. For commercial property it is more common to arrange the bridge and then refinance with a separate commercial mortgage lender when the leases are in place. More on commercial bridge to let.

Yes. Unencumbered commercial property is the simplest security for a capital raise, because the bridging lender takes a first charge and there is no existing lender's consent to obtain. The amount depends on the valuation and the asset type, with standard commercial property commonly supporting up to 70% to 75% loan to value. More on capital raising on commercial property.

Yes. Most planning gain bridges are on property without the consent you intend to obtain. The lender values the property in its current use and lends against that figure. A credible planning case and a fallback exit, such as letting or selling in the existing use, widen the choice of lenders. More on bridging for planning gain.

Yes. This is one of the most common uses. If your landlord offers you the building with a short deadline, a bridge lets you complete, stop paying rent and then refinance onto an owner-occupier commercial mortgage. The refinance lender will often take the rent you were paying into account when looking at affordability, which can help your case. More on buying business premises.

It depends on the building, the number of units and how much of the structure and services must change. Budget for purchase costs and non-residential SDLT, construction, professional fees, planning costs, finance costs and a contingency. We would not quote a per-square-foot figure without seeing the scheme, but we will test your cost plan against what lenders expect before you apply. More on office to residential finance.

It is the process of converting a building so it can be let to three or more people from more than one household who share facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom. That can mean a family house turned into a small HMO, a building converted into a large HMO for seven or more sharers, or a commercial building such as an office or pub converted to shared housing. More on hmo conversion finance.

Bridging remains a mainstream tool for commercial property buyers who need speed or need to fund a building that mortgage lenders will not touch yet. Lender appetite shifts with the wider market, and pricing moves with funding costs, so terms available today may differ in a few months. We keep in close touch with the bridging lenders we work with and can tell you how lenders currently view your type of project. More on change of use bridging.

Returns vary widely by sector, location, lease terms and the condition of the building, so a single average figure can mislead. We do not publish yield or return statistics. For a specific property, your agent or a RICS valuer can advise on the market yield, and we can show how different rents and values affect what you can borrow. More on vacant commercial property.

We cannot speak for any commentator. The general consumer message about bridging is sensible: it is short-term, more expensive than a mortgage, and should only be used with a clear exit. For commercial property bought below market value, that applies equally. Know your total cost, evidence your discount, and have the refinance or sale plan ready before you borrow. More on below market value bridging.

Cash is fast and attractive to sellers, but it ties up capital you may need for works or other purchases. With receivership stock, many investors bridge the purchase and refinance once the property is stabilised. The right choice depends on cost, opportunity and tax, so take advice from your accountant. If you will live in the home, the borrowing is likely to be regulated, and we would introduce you to an FCA-authorised firm. More on buying from receivers.

It depends on who lives in the residential part. If you borrow personally and you or an immediate family member will live in at least 40% of the building, the loan is a regulated mortgage contract. Where your family will live in the building at all, we introduce the case to a firm directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. If the flats are let to unconnected tenants or empty, it is normally unregulated. More on semi-commercial bridging.

We cannot speak for any commentator. The widely shared consumer message is that bridging is short-term, more expensive than a mortgage, and should only be used with a clear way to repay. That applies to a second charge bridge too. Compare the total cost with alternatives such as a further advance or a refinance before you commit. More on second charge bridging.

The Financial Conduct Authority regulates bridging loans that are regulated mortgage contracts, which broadly means loans secured on a home the borrower or a close family member lives in or will live in. Unregulated bridging for investment or business purposes is outside the FCA's mortgage rules and is governed by the loan agreement, general law and anti-money laundering rules. More on unregulated bridging loans.

No single lender suits every case. The right lender depends on your property type, location, loan size, completion date and exit. A lender that is keen on let industrial units may decline a vacant pub. We compare offers on total cost and flexibility across the lenders we work with, rather than steering every case to one lender. More on commercial bridging lenders.

A £200,000 loan is a standard rather than a large bridge. Its cost is monthly interest for the period it runs, plus an arrangement fee of around 1% to 2%, which is £2,000 to £4,000, and valuation and legal fees. Interest varies with loan to value and risk. Our bridging cost calculator models the total over your expected term. More on large commercial bridging.

We do not quote individual commentators. Mainstream consumer money guidance generally treats bridging as expensive, short-term borrowing to use only with a clear and realistic plan to repay it. That is sensible advice for commercial borrowers too: understand every fee, keep the term short, and have the exit evidenced before you commit. Read the guide.

It should state the route (sale, refinance or another source of funds), a realistic month-by-month timeline, the numbers showing the loan, interest and fees are cleared, documentary evidence such as agent appraisals or an agreement in principle, and a fallback plan in case the primary exit is late or falls short. Read the guide.

Neither is better in every case. A commercial mortgage is cheaper for holding a stable, let or trading property over years. A bridging loan is better when you need speed, the property is vacant or needs work, or a mortgage lender will not lend yet. Many borrowers use a bridge first, then refinance onto a mortgage. Read the guide.

Bridging loans cost more than long-term finance because they are priced per month and carry arrangement, valuation and legal fees. The term is short, so a delayed exit can lead to extension fees or default interest. Lenders take a charge over property and often require personal guarantees from company directors. Read the guide.

On a first charge over standard commercial property such as offices, shops and industrial units, LTV is commonly up to 70% to 75% of the lender's valuation. Land, trading assets like hotels and care homes, and second charges are usually lent at lower LTVs. Each lender sets its own limits by property type. Read the guide.

Yes. Most commercial bridges carry an arrangement fee, typically around 1% to 2% of the loan, plus valuation fees and legal fees for both your solicitor and the lender's. Some lenders also charge an exit fee, and a broker fee may apply. All fees should be set out clearly before you proceed. Read the guide.

Lenders look for suitable commercial or investment property as security, enough equity or deposit, a credible exit within the term, and a borrower who passes identity and anti-money laundering checks with a credit history they can explain. Individuals, limited companies, SPVs and LLPs can all apply. Experience matters on heavier projects. Read the guide.

Almost always. A commercial bridging lender needs an independent RICS valuation to confirm what the property is worth and how saleable it is, because the loan is sized as a percentage of value and repaid by an exit. Desktop valuations are occasionally accepted on simple, low-LTV cases. Read the guide.

Yes. A commercial bridge is secured by a legal charge, and the lender will not release funds until a solicitor confirms good title and valid security. You need your own solicitor, and the lender usually instructs a separate firm unless it allows dual representation. Guarantors may need independent legal advice too. Read the guide.

No. Class MA permitted development is part of the planning system in England only. Wales and Scotland have their own planning rules for changes of use, and different permitted development rights may or may not apply. Speak to a planning consultant familiar with the relevant nation before relying on any change of use route. Read the guide.

On a home you live in, any borrowing is a regulated mortgage matter for a firm directly authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. On commercial property, a refurbishment bridge can fund part of the purchase plus works released in stages, sized against current value and the value after works, so the total facility can exceed what the building was worth on day one. Read the guide.

Neither is better in every case. Retained interest fixes the interest for the term at the start and removes monthly payments, which lenders like. Rolled up interest releases more cash on day one and charges only for months used. The right choice depends on how much net cash you need, how certain your exit date is, and whether the lender refunds unused retained interest. Read the guide.

A first charge bridging loan is the senior security on a property and is repaid first from any sale. A second charge sits behind an existing mortgage and is only repaid from what remains after the first lender is cleared. Because the second charge lender carries more risk, it usually lends less against the property and charges more for the loan. Read the guide.

A regulated bridging loan is one that meets the FCA's regulated mortgage contract definition: credit to an individual or trustees, secured on UK land, where at least 40% of that land is used or intended to be used as a dwelling by the borrower or a close family member. It must be arranged by a firm authorised by the FCA for mortgage activity. Read the guide.

Yes. Bridging lenders regularly lend to newly formed SPVs because the decision rests mainly on the property, the loan to value and the exit. With no trading record, lenders look more closely at the directors' experience, credit history and assets, and usually require personal guarantees from the directors or main shareholders. Read the guide.

Not always, but usually where the borrower is a limited company or SPV. Lenders may relax the requirement, or accept a limited guarantee, on low LTV loans against good quality, let commercial property with a strong exit. Individuals borrowing in their own name are already personally liable, so a separate guarantee is not normally needed. Read the guide.

An indicative decision can often be reached within a few working days if the adverse is fully disclosed with dates, amounts and explanations. Completion then depends on valuation and legal work, which can take two to four weeks where they move quickly, and longer on complex cases. Undisclosed adverse that surfaces later is the main cause of delay. Read the guide.

The loan goes into default. The lender can charge default interest and costs, and will usually ask how you plan to repay. You may be able to agree an extension or refinance to a new lender. If nothing is agreed, the lender can appoint a receiver to sell the property and pursue any guarantors for a shortfall. Read the guide.

On commercial property, completion usually takes from a few weeks to around six weeks after application. Where the valuation is straightforward and the legal work has no title or lease problems, it can complete in two to four weeks. Specialist assets, complex ownership or missing documents extend the timeline, so preparation makes a real difference. Read the guide.

In bridging, a closed loan has a fixed repayment date because the exit is already contracted, such as an exchanged sale. An open loan has no fixed date and can be repaid at any time within its maximum term once the planned exit happens. Closed loans carry less risk for lenders; open loans give borrowers flexibility when the exit is not yet certain. Read the guide.

Multiply the loan balance by the monthly rate for each month the loan runs. For illustration, £500,000 at a hypothetical 1 per cent a month is £5,000 a month, or £60,000 over 12 months with simple interest. If interest compounds, each month is charged on the balance plus interest already added, so the total is slightly higher. Read the guide.